Porto de Galinhas, Brazil ICCAT 2009

Porto de Galinhas, Brazil ICCAT 2009

The 2009 Game Plan Bigeye Bluefin Albacore Swordfish Sailfish Sharks Seabirds Compliance, compliance, compliance

Working Group on Sport and Recreational Fisheries U.S only CPC to table a document Work Plan –CPCs to submit data on sport and recreational fisheries, including post-release mortality (where available) –Develop common data collection methodology (SCRS) –Develop a common (ICCAT) definition of sport and recreational fisheries –All CPCs to submit report detailing management, control and monitoring of sport and recreational fisheries by 30 June 2010 (unless already submitted at time of WG meeting)

Panel 1 Bigeye Tuna –Rollover for 2010 –TAC 85,000 (down from 90,000) –Sets catch limit for minor harvesters of 3,500 mt –Carry forward cap (30%) not extended for 2010 (~40,000 mt of underage in 2008) –Little traction on changing time/area closure (Commission to review in 2010)

Panel 2 Northern Albacore –For 2010 and 2011 TAC of 28,000 mt (was 34,500 mt) –U.S. quota relatively small (538 mt); 20% reduction puts us in a difficult position –Taiwan accepted additional 70 mt reduction to offset most of the U.S. reduction Western Bluefin Tuna –EC proposal to list all vessels authorized to fish for bluefin and to provide monthly catches to the Secretariat not adopted

Eastern Bluefin Tuna –One year measure –TAC at 13,500 mt (was going to be 19,950); pro rata quota reductions for all –Purse seine fishing 15 May – 15 June (two weeks shorter, no weather option) –Locks in 2011 – 2013 TAC at 60% probability to rebuild by 2023 –Reductions of fleet overcapacity continue

Panel 4 Northern Swordfish –Chair’s plan with usage bins (75 – 100% = 100%, 0 – 25% = 25%) didn’t fly –One year rollover –TAC reduced to 13,700 mt (from 14,000 mt) –Prorated quota reductions in 2011 if exceeded –Senegal transferred 100 mt to Canada –EC allowed to count 200 mt against S. Atl quota

Southern Swordfish –Three year measure –TAC reduced to 15,000 mt (from 17,000) –EU slowly reduces in later years –Brazil, South Africa reduce in first year, increase in following years –Small quota transfers authorized from U.S. to Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Belize and from South Africa and Japan to Namibia Mediterranean Swordfish –One year plan –Maintained two month closure (Oct/Nov) –Increased reporting and monitoring –SCRS to assess stock and effectiveness of seasonal closure in 2010 –Set up Med SWO vessel list

Sailfish –Recommendation not adopted –Called for live release from pelagic longline vessels; did not apply to artisanal or recreational fisheries –Improved monitoring and reporting –Measure would have carried if agreement could have been reached on a mandatory release requirement for sport and recreational fisheries

Sharks –Bigeye Thresher EC proposal No retention (live or dead) Exception for Mexican small-scale coastal fishery (110 animals) Provisions for common thresher did not fly (including recreational measure requiring photograph and release) –Shortfin Mako Competing U.S. and EC proposals merged Cap CPC landings at average of 2004 – 2008 levels w/no carry forward allowed Japan sought exclusion for “bycatch fisheries” No agreement; forwarded to 2010 meeting

–Porbeagle Joint EC/Canada proposal Not consistent with scientific advice; request on books for joint RFMO meeting to consider coordinated management Forwarded to 2010 meeting –Fins Attached Joint Belize/Brazil/U.S. proposal Requires fins to be naturally (fully or partially) attached at landing Didn’t receive much traction; forwarded to 2010 meeting

Sea Birds –Several competing proposals merged –Lists of possible mitigation measures for southern waters (one from column A, one from column B) – No agreement; may be reconsidered at 2010 meeting Sea Turtles –U.S. proposal CPCs to document domestic management measures Vessels to carry release gear SCRS to provide advice on terminal tackle/baits to reduce mortality –Forwarded to 2010 meeting

Compliance Committee Many, many sessions Step-by-step review of –Data submission –Eastern bluefin tuna fishery monitoring and capacity reduction –Quotas, catch limits, etc. ~3/4 of CPCs receive letters of identification (start of trade measures process) U.S. received letter of concern regarding BCD document submission to ICCAT A spring intersessional meeting of Compliance Committee to consider eastern bluefin tuna

Other Expand IUU vessel list to include non- fishing vessels Authorized vessel list (LSTV) minimum size decreased from 24 to 20 m (and change all related recommendations)

Plenary Intersessionals –Integrated Monitoring Measures (22-23 Feb, Madrid) –BFT-E Compliance (24-26 Feb, Madrid) –Future of ICCAT (26-30 July, Brasilia) Elections (new) –1st Vice Chair Zakia Driouich (Morocco) –2 nd Vice Chair: Papa Mansa Keita (Senegal) –Chair PWG: Andre Share (South Africa) –Chair STACFAD: Sylvie LaPointe (Canada)

The 2009 Game Plan Bigeye Bluefin Albacore Swordfish Sailfish Sharks Seabirds Compliance, compliance, compliance